N.B.A. Commissioner Adam Silver on Tuesday defended the weird disciplinary strategy for ahead Miles Bridges, who was suspended for 30 video games for home violence however will miss simply 10 video games during which he’s eligible to play.
Bridges, 25, was a restricted free agent however didn’t signal with a workforce or play in the course of the 2022-23 season after his arrest in California in June, when he was accused of hitting his girlfriend in entrance of their youngsters. He pleaded no contest to a felony home violence cost in November, but it surely wasn’t till April 14, after a league investigation, that the N.B.A. introduced his punishment: a 30-game suspension, with credit score for 20 video games as a result of he didn’t play this season. Sometimes, gamers are credited for video games solely when they’re eligible and accessible to play.
On Tuesday, Silver stated the league and Bridges had a “mutual settlement” that he wouldn’t play in the course of the 2022-23 season — although Silver was cautious to say that Bridges was not suspended. Silver stated crediting Bridges for 20 video games towards the penalty appeared like the precise factor to do as a result of he missed a yr of earnings and N.B.A. play. The league additionally confirmed that Bridges would lose 30 video games of pay, regardless that his suspension would maintain him out of simply 10 video games if he signed a brand new contract.
But when Bridges’s absence this season was purported to be a type of punishment, it didn’t seem that manner: In December, he joked around with players in Los Angeles at a recreation between the Lakers and Charlotte Hornets, whom he performed for final season. And in February, he informed The Related Press that he would possibly return to play in March. He was sentenced to a yr of counseling, and group service. Representatives for Bridges didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Bridges’s punishment has been criticized by some reporters and by followers on social media.
The equity and accountability within the N.B.A.’s disciplinary course of has been known as into query this season after a collection of incidents during which gamers acquired completely different punishments for comparable offenses, or have been punished extra severely than they or their friends felt was honest. League officers stated they weigh a number of elements in meting out penalties, together with an individual’s previous habits, which can result in completely different outcomes.
